Mohammad Alkout, a junior double majoring in economics and civil engineering, served as an intern at the Permanent Mission of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations at the U.N. headquarters in New York. As a permanent delegate chosen to represent his nation, he attended numerous important meetings, including sessions at the U.N. General Assembly. He’s even been invited back to represent next summer. “It was an enriching experience and I am keen on continuing in the field of politics and am aiming for a career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," Alkout said.
Nazifa Prapti, a fifth-year student pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering and who holds a minor in engineering leadership development, completed her second internship with Boeing this summer in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. She worked as a manufacturing engineering intern on the H-47 Chinook program, which she said has been both challenging and rewarding. “I’ve gained valuable insights into the aerospace and defense industry and developed skills that will benefit my career," Prapti said. "I started my engineering journey because I wanted to inspire more women. No matter what, I will always find ways to inspire others through my work. As I approach the end of my college journey, I’m excited to apply the skills and insights I’ve gained from my internships. I’m deeply grateful for all the support and guidance I’ve received, especially from the Penn State Multicultural Engineering Program, and I look forward to continuing to grow and apply what I’ve learned in the next chapter of my career.”
Chase Brown, who will earn a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering technology from Penn State Harrisburg in December 2024, interned at the Middletown, Pennsylvania, office of Legrand, a global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. In his internship Brown has tested products, updated firmware and performed physical and software rework — all helping him gain valuable knowledge in the field. “Not only do I have more insight about career specific processes, but also about the work environment itself. Attending company events and meetings allowed me to practice my professionalism outside of the college settings," Brown said. "Working at the Middletown office meant more flexibility with managing class time and work hours, with it being so close to the campus. I am so thankful to have had such a productive and enriching experience so far, and I am eager to continue on for the near future!”
Ann Ehrlich, a second-year Schreyer Honors Scholar studying geography in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences with minors in climatology and geographical information sciences, spent 10 weeks with the NASA DEVELOP Program studying the effects of space weather on satellite communication for precision agriculture. “My time with Schreyer gave me the confidence to apply technical skills to real-world problems and engage professionally with international partners and NASA leadership," Ehrlich said.
Oluwatomisin Olaore, a junior studying computational data science in the College of Engineering, spent the summer as a front-line IT procurement intern with PPG at the company’s headquarters in Pittsburgh. Her team provided IT solutions that drove savings and productivity for the organization. Olaore worked on three different projects, helping her gain exposure to agile methodology, functional specifications and project management. “I'm very grateful for all the connections and different individuals that I met during my time," Olaore said. "I'm leaving this internship with several new technical, professional and analytical skills. This has been an amazing experience, and I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to work at such a wonderful company.”
Luke Kerwin, who will earn a bachelor’s degree in data science from the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) in December 2024, worked at the Chick-fil-A Corporate Support Center in Atlanta as a restaurant performance insights intern this summer. At his internship's completion, Kerwin was hired to continue in a part-time capacity. “I’m thrilled (to be able) to build upon the foundation I established this summer," Kerwin said. "This opportunity allows me to continue learning from some of the brightest and most caring minds in the industry while I complete my remaining coursework at Penn State. I’m excited to continue learning, growing and building relationships with such an incredible team!”
Nelcys Guzman, a senior pursuing a degree in business administration at Penn State Scranton, participated in a management trainee internship with Enterprise Mobility this summer where she learned the essential operations of one of the world’s leading car rental brands. “From mastering customer service excellence to understanding fleet management and logistics, each day had truly been a rewarding journey of growth," Guzman said. "My supportive team has guided me through various facets of the business, including customer service and effective sales strategies that drive profits. This hands-on experience has not only honed my skills but also deepened my admiration for Enterprise Mobility’s commitment to recognition, excellence and teamwork.”
Jade Bramwell, a senior studying broadcast journalism in the Bellisario College of Communications, completed a summer internship with CNN (a business unit of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.) and a nine-week summer media fellowship in New York City. At CNN, she supported “CNN NewsNight,” hosted by Abby Phillip. "This has been a rough last few months in the news cycle and learning the ins and outs of the industry has been life changing," Bramwell said. "Being the only Black/Black woman CNN news show intern this summer is a privilege I do not take lightly. I hope the trend continues to move forward for more diverse faces in the newsroom. Thank you, T. Howard Foundation for continuing to shift the movement in media helping students like me receive internships.”
Kacie Czyszczon, a senior majoring in food science in the College of Agricultural Sciences, spent the summer with The Hershey Company as a Research and Development intern on the sensory and product insights team in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Czyszczon learned about many sensory techniques, such as descriptive analysis, by working with the Hershey Professional Taste Panel. She also worked with the materials characterization team to explore solutions to complex food analysis problems linked to physical transformation. Throughout the summer, she had the opportunity to see Hershey’s Kisses be made on the production line, bake in the Hershey test kitchens, and make Reese’s peanut butter cups in the pilot plant. “Working with iconic confectionery projects that I grew up enjoying was an incredible experience. It was exciting to apply the knowledge and skills that I've developed at Penn State to projects that have a real impact on the business.”
